Reconciliation Week 2022: Council to reaffirm its commitment

Following Reconciliation Week, from 27 May June to 3 June, Council will reaffirm its commitment to the Statement of Recognition and Commitment which it endorsed last year.

The National Reconciliation Week 2022 theme, Be Brave. Make Change, is a challenge to all Australians – individuals, families, communities, organisations and government – to tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation.

“I encourage everyone in our community to take part in Reconciliation Week. It’s a great opportunity for our non-indigenous community to learn about, and reflect on, our shared history and to reconsider everyday actions with a new perspective,” Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill said.

“Next month, Council will re-endorse the Statement of Recognition and Commitment, a document that we worked on with the Aboriginal Advisory Council (AAC) to outline a guiding vision on how we respect the ongoing and unbroken connection that Gundungurra and Dharug Traditional Owners hold with their Country (Ngurra).

“By reaffirming this statement, we commit to working with Traditional Owners and the broader First Nations community, to continue to take meaningful steps to address the injustice of the past, and to embrace a future together.”

Reconciliation Week commemorates two significant milestones – the successful 1967 referendum that saw more than 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the government power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognise them in the Census; and the 1992 High Court Mabo decision to overturn ‘terra nullius’ (land belonging to no one) that paved the way for Native Title.

To take part in Reconciliation Week you can:

• Watch a documentary or read a book from the library about First Nations history

• Encourage others to read/watch what you watched

• Re-share a post on social media about First Nation People’s perspective

• Read newspapers like the Koori Mail, National Indigenous Times, First Nations Telegraph

• Incorporate native foods or method of cooking into your menu (YouTube it!)

• Contribute to local First Nations groups, such as Garguree, ACRC, Deadlee Gap Café, Gunya Shed

• Learn two First Nations words and use them in conversation like you would Bon Voyage or Gracias

• Speak up when you hear someone say something inappropriate.

Earlier in the year Council organised, in conjunction with the Blue Mountains Aboriginal Culture & Resource Centre (ACRC), an additional screening of the film Smoke Between Trees, an intimate and uplifting portrait of a reluctant grandfather of an indigenous grandson. Set amongst the breathtaking beauty of the Blue Mountains, director Michael Joy’s Smoke Between Trees features local First Nations people in starring and supporting roles.

For more information go to bmcc.nsw.gov.au/reconciliation-week-2022.

Auntie Elly Chatfield Gamillaroi woman, Director Michael Joy and Tiriel Mora in a Q and A after the screening of Smoke Between Trees